Time to move on

EDITOR:

Here we are, post election, and we still are seeing airport related letters to the editor. Aren't we all tired of this question? I'm referring to the recent letter from Terry Burnes who opposed the recently passed airport use ordinance. The margin of victory would have been much greater but for one airport businessman who continuously published costly ads in opposition, which were, in my opinion, a masterpiece of disinformation and deception motivated by self-interest. Fortunately, enough voters saw through the smoke and made the right choice.

Let us now move on and allow the county to proceed and implement the new ordinance. It will soon be clear that the new ordinance's emphasis on soaring and sports aviation along with citizen controls will prevail over the so called jet invasion prognosticated by those opponents. Our airport will retain its existing character.

Mr. Burnes also feels the new ordinance is about airport expansion. That has never been the case. There are no plans to expand the airport for large aircraft. To repeat, the new ordinance is more about citizen control over the means of expansion and its emphasis is upon soaring and sports aviation infrastructure. Certainly private capital can operate to expand the number of large hanger facilities if consistent with the airport master plan, but there is simply no market here in our rural Carson Valley for that kind of endeavor nor will there be, according to most knowledgeable people. Currently, most of the existing large hangers are being used to house several small aircraft or being put to other uses.

Lastly, the airport pavement weight capacity is what it is despite all the rhetoric to the contrary. Flexibility was purposely built into the new ordinance to insert any new number in relevant airport documents in case there is ever a new airport pavement study done. Whether to seek further federal funding for such a study is up to the County subject to approval by the FAA. For now, the FAA has accepted the results of the 2002 study showing a baseline 60,000 to 75,000 pound weight limit. There is no reliable evidence to the contrary. With this new ordinance our airport should be in compliance and the FAA will likely reinstate airport funding.

So now we have an enforceable airport ordinance and the citizens finally have control. The maintenance funding will not burden the County budget. It's about time.

Our thanks to the voting public for hanging in there during this confusing campaign. Citizen involvement on both sides of the question shows us that the public process embedded in this new ordinance will work as to any further airport issue requiring voter approval.

John H. Garvin

Residents for a Rural Community Airport

Minden